Propeller for ships.



Patented Jan. 2, I900.

m. 64mm.

S. VON KVASSAY.

PBUPELLER FOB SHIPS A'pplication filed. Oct. 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

rirn S'raries STEFAN VON KVASSAY, OF PAPA-KETTORNYULAK, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

PRDPELLER IFOR SHIPS.

$PIEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,310, dated January 2, 1900.

Application filed October 13, 1899. $erial No. 733,523. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, STEFAN VON KVASSAY, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Papa-Kettornyulak, in the Kingdom of Hungary, in the Empire of Austria- Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fin-Like Propellers for Ships and other Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a construction of fin-like propellers for ships and other vessels which operate in a similar manner to fishes fins for propelling the ship. These fin-like propellers consist of a number of flaps, which are pivoted between two sector-plates, that are in their turn pivoted to an axis fixed to the ships side and which are moved alternately inward and outward in corresponding slots in the side of the ship. The said flaps are so arranged and actuated that when the sector-plates are turned outward on their axes the flaps turn into such a position that the water can flow freely through between them, while when the sector-plates are turned inward the flaps close together, so as to form a closed surface that presses in a backward direction upon the water situated between it and the ships side, and thus has the effect of propelling the vessel forward. A number of such fin-propellers actuated by the ships engines are preferably arranged in pairs on each side of the ship symmetrically to the middle vertical'plane thereof, one or more such pairs being so arranged as to act in the contrary direction to the other pairs for the purpose of propelling the ship backward and for fa cilitating the maneuvering thereof. The construction of such fin-propellers is shown on the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective View of one of the propellers. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section of a fin-propeller, in its partly-open position, pivoted to the side of a ship. Fig. 3 shows a front view of the fin-propeller. Fig. at shows a vertical section of the side of the ship with the fin propeller in the inward position. Fig. 5 shows a diagrammatic plan of a ship with several pairs of fin-propellers applied thereto.

The fin-propellers are composed of two sector-shaped plates a, of from forty-five to sixty degrees in width, connected rigidly together by an axis Z), which is pivotally mounted on the side of the ship. Between the plates (1, at the outer radial edges thereof, are arranged side by side a number of vertical flaps d, turning on pivots c, stepped in the plates at. The flaps are of such a width that when closed they bear with their free edge against the pivoted edge of the next flap, thus forming a closed surface and being thus prevented by their said abutment from turning beyond the said point. The flaps can turn inward on their pivots to an extent limited by stops d, Fig. 2, in which inward position, as shown at Fig. 2, they form an angle with the outer edge of the sector-plates, which is preferably about equal to the angle formed by the said plates with the sides of the ship in their open position. The sector-plates when closed inward are situated in corresponding narrow slots f, formed in the sides of the ship, the outer surface of which is slightly recessed at the part between the said slots, as shown at Figs. 2 and 4, so that when the propellers are closed inward the flaps d fit into the said recess, as shown, so as not to project beyond the general surface of the ships side, and they thus offer no appreciable obstruction to the forward motion of the ship.

As shown at Fig. 5, there may be arranged any desired number of the said fin-propellers in the side of the ship, preferably in pairs 1 2 3, placed symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the ship, one of these pairs 3 3 being arranged in positions the reverse of those of 1 and 2, so that when in action they will propel the boat backward and will facilitate the maneuvering of the boat.

The fin-propellers are all actuated from the ships engines by any suitable known gear.

The motion of the fin-propellers can be so arranged that the one propeller commences its inward or propelling motion when. the next propeller on the same side commences its outward or idle motion, so as to prevent any jerky motion in the propulsion. The motions of the pairs of propellers or even of the single propellers need, however, not be synchronous, but may begin at difierent times, so as to overlap each other.

Each fin-propeller can be disconnected from the motor by a clutch device at the end of its working stroke, and all of them may be put out of action in this way in the event of the vessel being propelled by sails or when landmg.

The described to-and-fro motion of the finpropellers may be effected by any suitable known means, such as by means of crank-1e- Vers fixed on their axes b, and such cranks may be directly connected by rods with the pistons of steam or other motor cylinders or with reciprocating gearing worked by electromotors, so that the motive power is applied directly without loss of effect.

The action of the said fin=like propellers is as follows: During the outward motion of the sector-plates the flaps (1 turn open automatically on their pivots until they come in contact with the inner stops. They thus ofier practically no resistance to the water flowing through the open spaces during the outward motion of the propeller. On the propeller being then moved inward all the flaps are closed automatically by the pressure of the water behind them, and the closed surface thus formed consequently forces the body of water behind it backward, thereby eifecting a forward propulsion of the vessel.

I claim- 1. The combination with a vessel, of fin-like propellers comprising sector-shaped plates and flaps pivoted along the outer edges thereof to overlap when parallel with said edges, means limiting the inward swing of the flaps, said propellers pivoted tothe ships side, and

suitable recesses therein for the reception of the plates and flaps when the propeller is in a normal or non-operative position, for the I purpose set forth.

2. The combination with a vessel, of fin-like propellers comprising sector-shaped plates se cured to Vertical axial journals revoluble in bearings on the vessels side, vertical flaps pivoted between the plates along their outer means limiting the inward swing of the flaps,

and recesses in the vessels side for the reception of the plates and flaps when the propeller is in a normal or non-operative position, said propellers arranged symmetrically in pairs on opposite sides of the vessel; in combination with similar propellers operating to propel the vessel backwardly, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEFAN VON KVASSAY.

Witnesses:

ALVESTO S. HOGUE, AUGUST FUGGER. 

